Apparatus for collapsing tubes



p i 2 1966 J. 5. BEKHOR' 3,248,013

APPARATUS FOR COLLAPSING TUBES Filed Feb. 20, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JAM/L .S. EEKHOR BY V @24J4w ATTORNEY April 1966 J. 5. BEKHOR 3,248,013

APPARATUS FOR COLLAPSING IUBES Filed Feb. 20, 1963 -3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAM/l 5. EEK/ 0R April 1956 J. 5. BEKHOR 3,248,013

APPARATUS FOR COLLAPSING TUBES Filed Feb. 20, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 26" INVENTOR.

JAM/L 5. 05/010,?

United, States Patent 3,248,013 APPARATUS FOR CGLLAPSING TUBES Jamil S. Bekhor, Belvidere Road, Mounted Rte. 12, Phillipsburg, NJ. Filed Feb. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 259,963 13 Claims. (Cl. 222-100) This invention relates to apparatus for collapsing tubes. More particularly, the present invention is directed to apparatus for extracting the contents of collapsible tubes such as soap, toothpaste, cosmetics, shoe polish, and any other material adapted to be packaged in a collapsible tube.

Several devices for collapsing tubes have been proposed heretofore. For one or more reasons, the devices pro posed heretofore have not been satisfactory. The major problem with the devices proposed heretofore has been the maintenance of tube alignment and tube support during the collapsing process. According to the present in- The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be mounted on an upright wall or the like. The present invention has been designed to accommodate the tubes of usual sizes within a predetermined range, and has pushbutton simplicity of operation. The apparatus of the present invention is particularly designed so that tubes may be inserted or removed therefrom. Squeezing is effected by drawing the tube through a substantially rec-, tangular orifice formed by three fixed'walls and one rotatable roller.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus for collapsing tubes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for collapsing tubes which does not require the outlet end of the tube to be independently supported and yet the tube will maintain a predetermined alignment at all times.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for collapsing tubes having adjustable guides for side edges of the tube to be collapsed.

It is another object of the present invent-ion to provide an apparatus for collapsing tubes wherein the actuator is in an inactive position at all times except when it is desired to collapse a portion of a tube.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for collapsing tubes wherein the tube is adapted to be drawn through a rectangular orifice derfined by three stationary walls and one movable wall.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for collapsing toothpaste tubes and the like having push-button simplicity in operation and ease in inserting refills and removing empty tubes therefrom.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for collapsing tubes capable of intermittent operation with each cycle of operation effecting the collapsing of a predetermined portion of a tube.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Patented Apr. 26, 1966 "Ice.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the apparatus disclosed in FIGURE- 1, with the cover plate on the operator removed.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view similar to FIGURE 2 but illustrating the elements in an operative disposition.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5- 5 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but with the elements illustrated in another disposition.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 77 in FIGURE 4 and illustrating the first step in using the apparatus of the present invention.

\FIGURE 8 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 7 but illustrating the elements in another phase of use of the present invention.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 but illustrating a subsequent relationship of the elements when using the apparatus of the present invention.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken along the lines 10-10 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 11 is a front elevation view lines 1'1' 1'1 in FIGURE. 2.

FIGURE 12 is an exploded view of components of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIGURE 13 is a front elevation view similar to FIG- URE 1'1 but illustrating another embodiment of the pres ent invention.

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view taken along the lines 14-44 in FIGURE 13.

Refer-ring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE 1 an apparatus for collapsing tubes designated generally as 10.

The apparatus 10 includes a fiat back plate 12 adapted to be removably secured to a mounting surface such as a 'wall or the like. A frame having a base 14 is removably secured to the back plate 12 by screws or the like. The frame includes a pair of parallel spaced side walls 16 and 1 8 integral with the base 14.

taken along the -A carrier 20 is pivotably secured to the side walls 16 V and 18 by means of pins 22 and 24, respectively. The

As shown more clearlyin FIGURE 10, aspring 36 is wound around a rivet 34 on one of the ears of the carrier 20 and cooperates with a pin 32 on the wall 18 of the frame to bias the carrier to the'open disposition illustrated in FIGURE 6. The apparatus 10 is provided with a righthand latch 38 and a lefthand latch 40. Each of the latches 38 and 40 is identical. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 10, the latch 38 is provided with a hook portion 42 adapted to cooperate with a reduced diameter portion44 on the roller 26 to retain the carrier 20 in its closed disposition as illustrated in FIGURE 10.

A shaft 46 extends between and is rotatably supported by the side walls 16 and 18 of the frame. The latches 38 and 40 are rotatably supported by the shaft 46 and biased to the position illustrated by means of a spring 48.

A bumper 50, which is C-shaped in transverse cross sec- '.tion with the open end of the C-directed toward the 3 base 14, is fixedly supported by the side walls 16 and 18.

As shown more clearly in FIGURES 7-10, the bumper.

50 surrounds and is concentric with the axis of rotation of shaft 46. A drawing cylinder 52 is rotatably supported by the side walls 16 and 18. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 12, the drawing cylinder 52 is hollow and includes a removable lip 58. As shown more clearly in FIGURES and 10, the side walls 16 and 18 are provided with rectangular slots 54 and 56 to facilitate reciprocation of the drawing cylinder 52 in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the back plate 12.

The drawing cylinder 52 and its lip 58 are rotatably supported at one end by the side wall 18 by means of a bearing shaft 60 as shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. The bearing shaft 60 is provided with a radially outwardly directed flange 62 which is disposed between the side wall 18 and the juxtaposed end of cylinder 52. Shaft 60 is coupled to cylinder 52 by means of a pin 64, see FIG- URE 12. Flange 62 includes an axially directed hole 66 which receives a pin 68 on the lip 58 to facilitate rotation of the lip with respect to the cylinder 52.

The otherend of cylinder 52 and its lip 58 are rotatably supported by the side wall 16 by means of a bearing shaft 70. Shaft 70 is provided with a radially outwardly directed flange 72 which is disposed between the side Wall 16 and the juxtaposed end of cylinder 52. The bearing shaft 70 telescopes into the cylinder 52 in the same man ner that shaft 60 telescopes into cylinder 52. Shaft 70 is provided with a groove 74 which receives a spring 76 which biases the lip 58 about the axis formed by pins 68 and 69 on opposite ends thereof. Pin 69 is rotatably supported by hole 73 in flange 72.

To prevent relative rotary motion between cylinder 52 and shaft 70, cylinder 52 is provided with one or more pins 75 which extend into a hole in flange 72. The cylinder 52 is hollow at its ends and has a solid central portion provided with a flat gripping face 77 which is juxtaposed to and spaced from a corresponding face on the lip 58.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 1, a back wall 78 is biased away from the base 14 by means of springs 82. The wall 78 is provided with cars at its ends rotatably supported by the shaft 80 which extends between the side walls 16 and 18 of the frame. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 7, for example, the biasing effect of springs 82 causes the wall 78 to contact the outer peripheral surface the cylinder 52. When the lip 58 is in the proper rotative disposition, the wall 78 will overcome the bias of spring 76 and maintain the lip 58 in its assembled disposition thereby completing the cylinder 52.

Shaft 46 is provided with lefthand threads 84 at one end and righthand threads 86 at the other end, as shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. A guide 88 is threadedly coupled to threads 84 and a guide 90 is threadedly coupled to threads 86. Hence, upon rotation of shaft 46, the guides 88 will move toward and away from each other depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft 46. As shown more clearly in FIGURES 7 and 11, guide 88 is provided with an upright guide surface 92 and a generally horizontal guide surface 96. Likewise, guide 90 is provided with a generally upright guide surface 94 and a generally horizontal guide surface 98. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 8, for example,the guides 88 and 90 are provided with a hole through which the shaft 80 extends thereby preventing the guides from rotating relative to shaft 46. In this manner, the rotation of the shaft 46 is converted to reciprocatory motion of the guides 88 and 90. i

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 4, a brake drum housing 100 having an integral actuating knob 102 is juxtaposed to the side wall 18. The knob 102 is removably coupled to an extension 47 of the shaft 46 by means of a setscrew or the like as shown in FIGURE 4. The shaft 80 is provided with a reduced diameter portion 104 which extends through the side wall 16 and rotatably supports a brake shoe 106 having an inwardly directed finger 108. An actuating arm 110 is rotatably supported 1 by the reduced diameter extension portion (shown in phantom on FIGURES 5 and 6) of shaft 46 with a spacer;

between the same and the juxtaposed side wall 16. A

spring 112 has one end coupled to the brake shoe 106' and its opposite end coupled to an extension finger on the actuating arm 110. Spring 112 biases the elements to the position illustrated in FIGURE 6.

The side wall 16 is provided with an arcuate slot 114 1 shown more clearly in FIGURE 6. An integral finger 116 on actuating arm 110 extends through the slot 114. When the carrier 20 is in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 6, the spring 112 biases the arm 110 with finger 116 a rier 20 biases the finger 116 to the position at top of slot 114, as illustrated in FIGURE 5. When the arm 110 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 5, the finger 108 has been cammed to a position whereby the brake shoe 106 has rotated so that it contacts the inner peripheral surface of the brake shoe housing 100. Hence, when the carrier 20 is in its closed disposition, as illustrated in FIG- URE 5, for example, knob 102 cannot be rotated to cause reciprocation of the guides 88 and 90.

As illustrated more clearly in FIGURES 7 and 10, the latches 38 and 40 are provided with curved surfaces at their outermost extremities which are adapted to be.

cammed outwardly against the bias of their respective springs by contact with the carrier 20. Hence, the carrier 20 will assume the position illustrated in FIGURES 6' and 7 by merely pulling downwardly on the latches 38 i and 40. In order for the carrier 20 to assume the position illustrated in FIGURE 10, one need only apply pressure to rotate the carrier 20 about the pins 22 and 24 until the carrier cams the latches 38 and 40 outwardly. T hereafter, the springs 48 for the latches 38 and 40 will bias these latches to a position wherein their hook portions cooperate with the reduced diameter portion on the roller. 26

thereby maintaining the elements in their operative disposition.

Selective intermittent operation of the apparatus 10 is effected by an operator arm 118 which is normally maintained in an inoperative disposition. clearly in FIGURES 1-4, the arm 118 is generally triangular and provided with a tab 120 against which finger pressure will be exerted, as will be made clear hereinafter. The generally triangulararm 118 is provided with an upright ridge 122 at its periphery except for edge .124. A cover plate 126 is removably secured to corner bosses of the arm 118 by means of screws 127, 129 and 131. Thus, it will be noted that the arm 118 is hollow and lacks a bottom wall along the edge 124. The cover plate 126 has been removed in FIGURES 2 and 3 for clarity of illustration.

A gear 128 having a cylindrical extension is removably coupled to the shaft 60 by means of a setscrew or the like, as shown more clearly at the righthand end of FIGURE 4. The cylindrical extension of gear 128 extends through an aperture in the arm 118. A return arm is mounted on the shaft 60 as shown more clearly in FIGURES 2-4.

The end of arm .130 remote from shaft 60 terminates in a wheel 132 which in turn engages the base plate 12. Wheel 132 is maintained in contact with base plate 12 by means of a spring 134.

Spring 134 has one end coupled to arm 130. The other end ofspring 134 is coupled to corner boss 136 on the arm 118. A leaf spring 138 extends generally along one of the triangular edges of the arm 118. This spring 138 has an integral flat base which overlies the corner boss 136 and is retained in this disposition by means of the screw 131. A gear segments 144 is rotatably supported by a pin on the arm 118 and biased into meshing engagement As shown more i with the gear 128 by means of spring 138. Arm 130 is provided with a shoulder 142 which biases the gear segment 144 out of engagement with gear 128 against the bias of spring 138. Hence, the normal disposition of the elements is that as shown in FIGURE 2.

When pressure is applied'to the tab 120 in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 3 the elements assume the position illustrated in this figure. Hence, it will be noted that the spring 138 has biased the gear segment 144 into engagement with gear 128. Accordingly, the rotation of the arm 118 has been transmitted by way of gear segment 144 to gear 128 which in'turn rotates shaft 60. Rotation of shaft 60 causes rotation of cylinder 52.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGURES 1-12 is diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURES 7-9. The operation is as follows. 1

It will be assumed that the present invention is to be utilized in conjunction with a tube of toothpaste 146. In order to couple the flattened end of the toothpaste tube 146 to the apparatus 10, the latches 38 and 40 will be depressed downwardly in FIGURE 7 thereby enabling the spring 36 to bias the carrier to the open disposition illustrated. By sequentially applying pressure to the tab 120 on the actuator arm 118, the cylinder 52 will be rotated to the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 wherein the spring 76 will bias the lip 58 to an open disposition thereby defining a recess into which the flattened end of the tube 146 may be received. As shown more clearly in FIGURE 7, the lip 58 is provided with a notch on its radial face for receiving the double thickness of the crimped flattened end of the tube 146.

After the flattened end of the tube 146 has been inserted into the notch as described above, .the tab 120 is depressed and permitted to return to its original disposition several times thereby rotating the cylinder 52 until the lip 58 is moved to its closed disposition by contact with the curved surface 149 on the guides 88 and 90. Thereafter, the carrier 20 will be rotated to its closed disposition wherein the hook portion 42 on the latches 38 and 40 will cooperate with the reduced diameter portion 44 on the roller 26 to maintain this relationship. At this point, the elements will have assumed the disposition illustrated in FIGURE 8.

The material within the tube 146 may be dispensed by removing the cap (not shown) and applying pressure on the tab 120 to rotate the same in a clockwise direction in FIGURE. 10. Such rotation of the tab 120 will cause the cylinder 52 to rotate with the tube 146 being wound therearound. The pressure for causing dispensing of the material within tube 146 will be effected by the bumper 50 and the roller 26. The side edges of the tube 146 will be maintained in proper alignment by the guides 88 and 90. Surfaces 96 and 98 on the guides 88 and 90, respectively, assist in supporting the tube 146. While the carrier 20 was in the position illustrated in FIGURE 7, the knob 102 will have been rotated to cause the guides 88 and 90 to reciprocate towards each other thereby aligning the tube 146 between and in contact with the guide surfaces 92 and 94.

As the tube 146 is being wound around the cylinder 52, it will be noted that the drawing orifice is defined by the stationary upright surfaces 92 and 94 and by the stationary horizontal surface of the bumper 50 and the movable surface defined by the outer periphery of the roller 26. As a result thereof, the righthand surface of the tube 146 in FIGURE 9 will be stretched more than the opposite surface thereby causing the tube 146 to always remain parallel to the plane of the base plate 12. If the cap on the tube 146 is not removed and the actuator arm 118 is sequentially actuated several times, the pressure in tube 146 will back feed on every stroke of the arm 118 thereby providing a precautionary feature to prevent bursting tube 146.

During the winding of the tube around the cylinder 52,

the increase in the diameter thereof is absorbed by pivotal movement of the wall 78 in a clockwise direction around the shaft 80 thereby compressing the springs 82. When the carrier 20 is in the closed disposition, the bearing wheels 30 and 32 engage the ends of the lip 58 thereby maintaining the same in closed disposition to prevent the inadvertent opening of the lip under the effect of the spring 76 in the lower lefthand rotative quadrant in FIG- URE 7.

To remove an empty tube, the latches 38 and 40 are pressed downwardly. Thereafter, the tube 146 is grasped in the operators hands and pulled until the tube is released from the recess in the cylinder 52.

I have found that the guides 88 and 90 are very desirable. In tests run without such' guides, the tube tended to creep in one direction or another as a result of kinks or creases in the tube thereby interfering with the desired central disposition of the tube. This is overcome by the surfaces 92 and 94 on the guides. If the guides 88 and 90 were not provided, the winding up of the tube on the cylinder 52 results in the cap end of the tube moving toward the plane of the base plate 12. Such movement results from the tensioning of the wall of the tube. This is overcome by the surfaces 96 and 98 on the guides 88 and 90, respectively. Hence, the guides 88 and 90 materially assist in controlling the behavior of the tube in a predetermined manner.

I have ascertained that the proper operation will result in the contents of the tube 146 being squeezed without subsequent flattening of the middle of the tube 146 as in a rolling mill. Hence, the distance between the roller 26 and the bumper 50 is greater than the thickness of the walls of the tube 146. When constructed in the aboveidentified manner, I have found that the stability of the tube 146 in a position parallel to the plane of the base plate 12 is attained throughout the operation.

In FIGURES l3 and 14, there is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention designated generally as 150. The apparatus 150 is identical with the apparatus 10 except as will be made clear hereinafter. Accordingly, all corresponding elements in apparatus 150 have been provided with primed numerals corresponding to those of apparatus 10.

In apparatus 150, the bumper 50 is rotatably supported by the side walls 16' and 18' and is solid in cross sec tion as illustrated in FIGURE 14. A spring 152 extends between the guides 88' and 90' and tends to cause the same to move towards each other. Guide 88 is provided with a pin follower 156'which extends into a spiral groove 154 'on the surface of bumper 50. Guide 90' is provided with a pin follower 160 which extends into and cooperates with a spiral groove 158 on the bumper 50".

The groove 154 extends upwardly to the left and the groove 158 extends upwardly to the right. Hence, rotation of the bumper 50' in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 14 will result in the guides 88 and 90 moving towards each other. Such rotation of the bumper 50' will be' effected by frictional engagement with the tubebeing wound on the cylinder 52' in the same manner as described above. Hence, it will be seen that the guides 88 and 90' are not provided with an external actuator as per knob 102 in apparatus 10. The guides 88 and 90' may be readily adjusted to any position along the bumper 50' manually. In any position of the guides 88' and 90', the frictional engagement is sufficient to overcome the efiect of the spring 152.

The carrier 20' is provided with a front wall which terminates in a curved surface 26' juxtaposed to and spaced from bumper 50'. Accordingly, the rectangular spacethrough which a tube may be drawn is defined by the stationary curved surface 26, the bumper 50', and the guides 88 and 90'.

In each embodiment of the present invention, subsequent winding of a tube on the cylinder 52 or 52' results in the wall 78 or 78' pivoted to a disposition to accommodate such increased thickness and reciprocation of the cylinder 52 within the slots 54 and 56.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for collapsing tubes comprising a frame, means on said frame defining a rectangular orifice, said means including a pair of juxtaposed extrusion surfaces between which a tube may be threaded and squeezed, a pair of guides mounted for movement toward and away from each other, said guides extending perpendicular to said extrusion surfaces and defining opposite sides of said orifice, means defining a wind up member around which a collapsed tube may be wound, said member being supported by the frame and being mounted for rotation about an axis juxtaposed to and parallel to the plane of said orifice, and means for rotating said member, whereby a tube having one end coupled to said member may be drawn through said orifice and wound around said member, said member being a cylinder having an interior gripping face and a pivotably mounted lip movable to a disposition wherein the flattened end of a tube may be inserted within said cylinder between said face and lip, said face and lip cooperating to secure and hold said fiattened end there-between, thereby coupling the flattened end of the tube to said cylinder.

2. Apparatus for collapsing tubes comprising a frame, means on said frame defining a rectangular orifice, said means including a pair of juxtaposed extrusion surfaces between which a tube may be threaded and squeezed, a pair of guides mounted for movement toward and away from each other, said guides extending perpendicular to said extrusion surfaces and defining opposite sides of said orifice, means defining a wind up member around which a collapsed tube may be wound, said member being supported by the frame and being mounted for rotation about an axis juxtaposed to and parallel to the plane of said orifice, and means for rotating said member, whereby a tube having one end coupled to said member may be drawn through said orifice and wound around said member, a wall movably supported by said frame, means biasing said wall to a position wherein said wall contacts said member, whereby said wall may move away from said member as a tube is wound around said member.

3. Apparatus for collapsing tubes comprising a frame, means on said frame defining a substantially rectangular orifice, a carrier pivotably coupled to said frame for movement between an operative and an inoperative disposition, said carrier, having a roller rotatably mounted thereon, said roller defining one side of said orifice in the operative disposition of said carrier means on said frame latching said carrier in its operative disposition, and a manually operable means on said frame for drawing a tube through said orifice, said last mentioned means includes a rotatable cylindrical element, a lever arm rotatably supported by said frame, a gear segment on said lever arm biased into engagement with a gear, said gear being coupled to said element, means biasing said gear segment into engagement with said gear, means biasing said lever arm to an inoperative disposition, means biasing said gear segment out of contact with said gear in the inoperative disposition of said lever arm.

4. Apparauts in accordance with claim 3 including a pair of guides reciprocally supported by said frame, means for selectively reciprocating said guides, said guides defining opposite sdges of said orifice.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 including an actuator for reciprocating said guides, said actuator including a brake drum, a brake shoe rotatably supported within said brake drum, a spring. biasing said shoe out of contact with said drum, and means responsive to the.

operative disposition of said carrier for causing said brake shoe to contact said brake drum to interfere with' the adjustment of said guides.

6. In apparatus for collapsing tubes comprising means defining a substantially rectangular orifice, said means including a pair of guides defining opposite sides of said orifice, said means including a first elongated member having a curved periphery, said member defining a third side of said orifice, said means including a second elongated member having a curved surface and defining the fourth side of said orifice, a carrier supporting said second member, said carrier being mounted for movement toward and away from said first member, and manually operable means juxtaposed to said orifice for drawing a tube through said orifice.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 including means for reciprocating said guides toward and away from each other.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 including a surface on each guide for supporting a tube, said surfaces being substantially perpendicular to said first and second elongated members.

a 9. Apparatus for collapsing a tube comprising a frame,

means on said frame defining a rectangular orifice, said means including a pair of guides mounted for movement toward and away from each other, said guides defining opposite sides of said orifice, means for selectively and simultaneously reciprocating said guides in opposite directions, a carrier pivotably mounted to said frame, said carrier rotatably supporting a roller, said roller defining one side of said orifice in the operative disposition of said carrier, means for selectively latching said carrier in an operative disposition, an elongated element supported by said frame and having a curved surface defining a side of said orifice, a cylinder rotatably supported by said frame for rotation about an axis juxtaposed to said orifice, means on said cylinder for receiving the flattened end of a tube, a manually operable means for selectively and intermittently rotating said cylinder, whereby a tube having one end coupled to said cylinder may be drawn through said orifice and wound around said cylinder, a wall juxtaposed to said cylinder, means biasing said wall into-contact with said cylinder, whereby said wall may be biased away from said cylinder as a tube is wound around said cylinder, and said wall being supported by said frame for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said cylinder.

10. Apparatus for collapsing tubes comprising a frame, a carrier rotatably supported by said frame for movement between an operative and an inoperative disposition,

means on said frame defining a rectangular orifice, said means including a pair of guides mounted for movement toward and away from each other and also including a roller perpendicular to said guides, said guides defining opposite sides of said orifice, said roller being rotatably supported by said carrier and defining a further side of said orifice in the operative disposition of said carrier, means on said frame for latching said carrier in its operative disposition, means defining a wind-up member around which a collapsed tube may be wound, said member being supported by said frame and being mounted for rotation about an axis juxtaposed to and parallel to the plane of said orifice, and means for rotating said member, whereby a tube having one end coupled to said member may be drawn through said orifice and wound around said member.

11. Apparatus in accordance means supported by said frame for mechanically causing movement of said guides toward and away from each other, and means responsive to the operative disposition of said carrier for restraining the aforementioned movement of said guides.

with claim 10 including. i

means including a pair of guides mounted for movement toward and away from each other, said guides defining opposite sides of said orifice, means defining a wind up member around which a collapsed tube may be wound, said member being supported by the frame and being mounted for rotation about an axis juxtaposed to and parallel to the plane of said orifice, means for rotating said member, whereby a tube having one end coupled to said member may be drawn through said orifice and wound around said member, a side of said orifice being defined by a cylindrical member, a groove on said cylindrical member, and pin following means on said guides cooperating with said groove for moving said guides toward and away from each other in response to rotation of said cylindrical member.

13. Apparatus for collapsing tubes comprising a frame, means on said frame defining a rectangular orifice, said means including a pair of guides mounted for movement toward and away from each other, said guides defining opposite sides of said orifice, means defining a wind-up member around which a collapsed tube may be wound, said member being supported by the frame and being mounted for rotation about an axis juxtaposed to and parallel to the plane of said orifice, means for rotating said member, whereby a tube having one end coupled to said member may be drawn through said orifice and wound around said member, a carrier rotatably supported by said frame for movement between an operative and an inoperative disposition, said carrier rotatably supporting a roller, said roller defining one side of said orifice in the operative disposition of said carrier, and means on said frame for latching said carrier in its operative disposition.

' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,288,916 7/1942 Muller 197-142 X 2,542,678 2/1951 Keefer 222-98 2,550,537 4/1951 Derrick 222-102 2,686,614 8/1954 Geressy et a1. 222-102 3,074,598 1/1963 Barton 222-100 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Examiner.

N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner. 

10. APPARATUS FOR COLLAPSING TUBES COMPRISING A FRAME, A CARRIER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE AND AN INOPERATIVE DISPOSTION, MEANS ON SAID FRAME DEFINING A RECTANGULAR ORIFICE, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF GUIDES MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND ALSO INCLUDING A ROLLER PERPENDICULAR TO SAID GUIDES, SAID GUIDES DEFINING OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID ORIFICE, SAID ROLLER BEING ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID CARRIER AND DEFINING A FURTHER SIDE OF SAID ORIFICE IN THE OPERATIVE DISPOSITION OF SAID CARRIER, MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR LATCHING SAID CARRIER IN TIS OPERATIVE DISPOSTION, MEANS DEFINING A WIND-UP MEMBER AROUND WHICH A COLLAPSED TUBE MAY BE WOUND, SAID MEMBER BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID FRAME AND BEING MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS JUXTAPOSED TO AND PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID ORIFICE, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID MEMBER, WHEREBY A TUBE HAVING ONE END COUPLED TO SAID MEMBER MAY BE DRAWN THROUGH SAID ORIFICE AND WOUND AROUND SAID MEMBER. 